With paratroopers serving as pallbearers, the casket bearing Demeo's body was wheeled into the St. Thomas Aquinas Center in Derry. The Army Ranger graduated from Pinkerton Academy.

"He was a very pleasant boy, very polite," said Susan Bean, the mother of a classmate. "His family did a really good job in raising him."

Demeo died on May 14. While the cause of his death remains under investigation, officials said there is nothing suspicious about it.

"He was an outstanding kid," said Debi Grochmal, whose son is serving in Afghanistan. "His family was wonderful, and he's going to be greatly missed, greatly missed. He was just one of the best kids you could ever meet."

In the eulogy, Lt. Col. Howard Steadman, Demeo's JROTC officer at Pinkerton, said what set Demeo apart was his desire to serve his country.

"I'm proud to have known Paul," Steadman said. "He had the potential to become a general. In reality, that can't happen now, but in my mind, he'll be a general."

Kevin Donovan, a boyhood friend, said Demeo embodied the uniform he wore.

"There's a saying that the Army Rangers don't leave anyone behind," Donovan said. "For some, it's just a saying, and for him, he really lived it."

FRIENDS, FAMILY AND EVEN STRANGERS FILLED THE FUNERAL MASS. HEATHER HAMEL HAS MORE ON THIS EMOTIONAL MEMORIAL. THERE WERE LOTS OF TEARS SHED AS THE 23 PARATROOPER WAS HONORED. THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY SAID HE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. HIS CASKET DRAPED WITH AN AMERICAN FLAG, A SYMBOL OF THE PRIDE HE TOOK IN HIS COUNTRY. THERE IS A SAYING THAT THE ARMY RANGERS DON'T LEAVE ANYONE BEHIND. FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT'S JUST A SAYING. FOR HIM, HE REALLY LIVED IT. FRIENDS DESCRIBED PAUL DEMEO AS A LEADER AND ROLE MODEL, RESPECTED AND LOVED BY MANY. HE WAS THE OLDEST OF FOUR CHILDREN. HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING KID. HIS FAMILY WAS WONDERFUL AND HE WILL BE GREATLY MISSED. HE DIED TWO WEEKS AGO AT FORT BRAGG. THE MILITARY IS STILL INVESTIGATING HIS DEATH, ONLY SAYING IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE SUSPICIOUS. AFTER THE EMOTIONAL CEREMONY, THE FUNERAL PROCESSION DROVE BY HIS ALMA MATER, PINKERTON ACADEMY. MANY STUDENTS WHO NEVER EVEN KNEW HIM LINED THE STREETS, HOLDING FLAGS AND PAYING RESPECT TO A FALLEN SOLDIER. I FELT IT WAS REALLY SPECIAL FOR EVERYONE TO COME OUT HERE TODAY. IT HONORED THE FAMILY, HIS LIFE AND DEDICATION TO THE COUNTRY. THESE ARE THE KINDS OF MOMENTS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL PROUD TO BE A TEACHER AND SEE HOW THE KIDS RESPOND TO SOMETHING SO SOMBER AND UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. ROGER HAD PAUL AND HIS SOCIAL STUDIES CLASS, SAYING HE WAS A PLEASURE TO BE WITH AND A GREAT KID. RESPECTED, LOOKED UP TO AND MISSED BY MANY. IF THERE'S A HEAVEN, I KNOW HE'S THERE BECAUSE THERE IS NO ONE LIKE HIM.